Why are large parts of northern Greenland considered Arctic deserts?

Large parts of northern Greenland are classified as Arctic deserts primarily because they receive extremely low levels of annual precipitation, often totaling less than 2 inches (50 mm) in the far north.1

These regions meet the criteria for a polar desert—a type of cold desert—due to the following environmental factors:

• Scant Precipitation: The northern areas of the island experience very little moisture, with annual totals frequently falling well below the threshold typically used to define arid regions.23
• Frozen Water: While the island is famous for its massive ice sheet, most of the water in these desert environments is locked away in glaciers and ice, making it unavailable as liquid water for plants and animals.2
• Climatic Conditions: These areas endure long, intensely cold winters and short summers with mean temperatures that remain low, further limiting biological productivity.21

Because of this lack of accessible liquid water and the harsh, frigid climate, these northern landscapes are characterized by sparse vegetation and limited biodiversity, fitting the definition of a desert despite the presence of ice.21